From the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers teams of the '40s and '50s to the "Showtime" era Magic Johnson teams of the late 1980s to Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's dynasty of the early 21st century, one thing has been consistent about the Lakers: winning. The franchise has boasted a host of Hall of Famers and has compiled a string of championships which has scarcely been rivaled in the history of American sports.

This has been the ‘Mother’ of all off seasons. We’ve been analyzing, debating, arguing, wearing out the trade machines, and for some of us, even ‘plotting,’ to storm the Staples Center. And why? Like you need ME to tell you. Because of two simple statements. The first, ‘Do it and do it now!’ The rallying cry for all Lakers Nation Fans. Those words got we bloggers excited, didn’t they? ‘Cmon, Mitch! Do it!’ That was followed by the hard one, the two words that hurt to the core. ‘Trade me.’ It’s been tough, I must admit. But now, ‘this is it,’ its time for the Lakers Season, our season to begin.

So, where will you be tonight? Just as the Kenny Logins song chimes, “This is it, make no mistake where you are….. the waiting is over” There’s no mistake, even with all the turmoil, with all the talking going on between us, we are all still a family of Lakers Fans first.

Its also my hope, that wherever you will be, you will be watching the Lakers. And of course, enjoying yourself, (this time, get out the beer, popcorn and candy) because Lakers Basketball for the 60th year in a row, is on the air!

Let’s get this party started. Yeah baby!

And now on to the game preview.

Houston Rockets - New look, with a new coach Rick Adelman. Bet you can’t wait to see the new player Stevie Francis? If you want to see Stevie, you will have to look down the bench. And why? Because you won’t see much of him in the game.

“He’s not the player that he once was, because he’s slowed down, he’s aged,” said Tracy McGrady…And how is Francis handling the lack of playing time?

“I definitely didn’t come here not to play at all,” Francis said.

Fatty’s Take: Aren’t you glad we didn’t sign the Franchise?

How is Adelman’s new motion and slashing offense coming along?

“It’s going to take some time,” McGrady said. “At times, we showed how great we can be as far as running it fluidly. At other times, we can be pretty bad, out of sync. The timing isn’t there. It is going to come.”

In the mean time, the new Rockets will look like the old Rockets. They are planning on low posting Yao and setting high screens for Tracy McGrady, with good ol fashioned screen and rolls to the basket.

Lakers - Coach Jackson said this will be a very good team. His goal is to crack the top four in the West. And how? By using combinations of players, that work well together.

Fatty’s Take: PJ’s Famous Combos. Sounds good doesn’t it, yummy? We will need to ‘Super Size’ those combos, if we plan on beating the Rockets.

If we put Farmar on Kwame’s shoulders, I feel we can give Yao trouble on his shots. But knowing PJ, he will make Yao work hard on both ends. Yao tires easily and may get into foul trouble with our new aggressive Andrew Bynum. How would you handle Yao?

Fatty’s Take: Good test for our new Jedi apprentice, Young ‘Skyhooker’ Bynum.

Tracy McGrady vs Kobe

This is why we watch the game. Phil says Kobe is not giving his all in the preseason. Kobe says, be patient, wait till the regular season.

Fatty’s Take: Kobe’s competitive endorphins will kick in, and kick Kobe into high gear. This is going to be good. My recommendation? Don’t blink, you might miss something.

Scola vs Ronny’s back up

It looks like Battier and Ronny to start. But who guards Scola when Ronny sits? Cookie, Vladimir you say? That’s why I said, Who guards Scola when Ronny sits?

Fatty’s Take: This is one game where the Lakers will really, really, really miss Lamar Odom.

From Bill Walton’s book of Amazing and Fun Lakers Facts:

Did you know that the Lakers and the Brady Bunch both stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian village?

Lakers Inspirational Game Song: Kenny Loggins’ ‘This is it’

Lakers Cheer for tonights Game:

The Rockets say…

‘Houston, we have a problem.’

Its a new season…

And the Lakers will clobber ‘em.

Game Prediction:

Lakers will put the Rockets in their pockets and take home a win.

New Fan Feature: Lakers Game Predictions (Houston game for practice, real contest starts Friday against Phoenix).

Pick the following and record your choices in the comment section on this thread. (copy and paste)

1. Game Winner:

2. Lakers High Scorer:

3. Lakers Top Rebounder:

4. Lakers Assists Leader:

5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory

6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game?

I wonder how many "official" Lakers thread will be made this season...

_________________"Duncan has achieved greatness for a franchise that doesn't attract free agents and doesn't want to spend money. A franchise that didn't win b4 him and possibly won't win after him. Always remember that when ranking greatness of a player."

I wonder how many "official" Lakers thread will be made this season...

why say that

anyway lakers will beat houston by a wide margin

ok, let me rephrase that...

i wonder how many "official" lakers thread will be move to gen. chit chat! lol

BTW, goodluck on Lakers game vs. Rockets!

_________________"Duncan has achieved greatness for a franchise that doesn't attract free agents and doesn't want to spend money. A franchise that didn't win b4 him and possibly won't win after him. Always remember that when ranking greatness of a player."

Trailing by 10 pts entering the final 2mins of the game kobe and fisher made a late run to tie the ballgame 92 all but shane save the day for the rockets with his last secs 3pt shot. The GOD scored 45 pts.

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